BMJ press release: e-cigarettes can help smokers to quit

The findings go against general concerns that e-cigs undermine the motivation to quit cigarettes.

The British Medical Journal released a press statement that associates growth in the use of e-cigarettes in England to a higher rate of successful attempts to quit smoking.

It says in 2015 the use of e-cigarettes may have resulted in an extra 18,000 long-term ex-smokers in England.

John Britton, from the University of Nottingham, said the significant year-on-year fall in smoking “indicates that something in UK tobacco control policy is working, and successful quitting through substitution with e-cigarettes is one likely major contributor".

These figures coupled with the Royal College of Physicians’ findings that vaping with electronic cigarette are a staggering 95% less harmful than smoking can surely only give a positive view to NZ’s government.

Lets hope we see the positive effects of all this in the outcome of the recent consultation proposal to legalise the sale of nicotine e-liquids in NZ (submissions are now closed).